Debates of Oct. 10th, 2014

Second World War National Tribute

[Lois Brown, Conservative, Newmarket—Aurora, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to recognize James Noddle, of Newmarket, Canada's first recipient of the 75th anniversary Second World War national tribute.

James answered the call of his country to serve as a driver and mechanic with the Ontario tank regiment. His job was to retrofit Sherman tanks into recovery vehicles, and find and repair major pieces of artillery damaged in battle.

He wrote in his memoirs:

Our skills were mightily tested as we kept the meager equipment operational on the battlefield, on the sides of mountains, through railway tunnels, across mine-infested roads, while under constant enemy fire, for the final push through Italy, into France and finally Germany.

It was my privilege to present this special tribute to James Noddle at his 100th birthday party last Sunday.

A grateful nation thanks James for his service. We will never forget.

Veterans

[Élaine Michaud, NDP, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, today, October 10, is World Mental Health Day. It is an excellent opportunity to promote healthy living and remind everyone of the importance of mental health to our overall health.

It is also an opportunity to remind people that no one is immune to psychological stress, and this is especially true of the brave men and women who have proudly served their country in the Canadian Forces and who often come back with psychological injuries that never fully heal.

The rate of post-traumatic stress disorder among members of the Canadian Forces has nearly doubled since 2002. The suffering experienced by our soldiers and their families is a real problem. Unfortunately, the resources available to help them are woefully inadequate. Worse still, those who are considered no longer fit for duty under the universality of service policy are being squeezed out, often with almost no resources and sometimes even no pension.

This situation is unacceptable. It is time for the government to show our soldiers and our veterans the respect they deserve, and for the government to ensure that they have all the assistance and all the resources they need.

Islamic State

[Rick Dykstra, Conservative, St. Catharines, ON]

Mr. Speaker, in Iraq, 100,000 Christians have fled their homes, humanitarian aid workers and journalists are being decapitated, women and girls are being forced to suffer horrific abuse, and anyone who disagrees with these things becomes a target of violence.

What are the root causes of these problems? What are the root causes of this violence and misery?

It is clear that the root causes of these problems are terrorists from ISIL, and I am proud that this House voted to do something about it.

ISIL is a serious threat. ISIL has explicitly threatened Canadians. ISIL has robbed, raped, and murdered thousands of innocent people. Canadians across the country agree that someone should do something about it.

So What are we going to do? We cannot just hope that ISIL goes away. We cannot just hope that someone else will fix the problem.

I commend members of this House who voted to allow our troops to conduct air strikes against ISIL. The world needs Canada to take action, to defend the defenceless victims of ISIL, and to stop these terrorists.

International Summit of Cooperatives

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the first International Summit of Cooperatives was held in October 2012, in Quebec City. The second summit, which I was pleased to attend this week, from October 6 to 9, again in Quebec City, was another success. There were more than 3,000 participants from 93 countries.

Major themes were addressed, including the role of the co-operative movement in ensuring our capacity to feed humanity, keep people healthy and contribute to sustainable development. The great thing is that the summit ends on the eve of Co-op Week, which will be celebrated across Canada from October 13 to 19.

A good way for us to celebrate co-op week would be for MPs to visit co-operatives in their riding during that week.

The co-operative model has been a proven structure for more than 100 years in Canada. They greatly empower each member, resulting in a wonderful combination of business success and social responsibility, which plays an important role in the economy and in the betterment of our communities.

Thanksgiving

[Royal Galipeau, Conservative, Ottawa—Orléans, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canadian families are getting ready for family gatherings over this Thanksgiving weekend, and I believe this is a good opportunity for us to humbly give thanks.

We give thanks for this opportunity we have of living in Canada, the best country in the world.

We give thanks for our brave airmen and women and humanitarian workers who are leaving for Iraq, risking their lives to help create a safer future for the Iraqi people and to protect us all from terrorists.

We give thanks for the farmers who make sure we have healthy food to eat.

We give thanks for the strong community spirit that exists in Canada and for Canadians’ willingness from coast to coast to work as volunteers to better people’s lives and help those who need it most.

In this spirit of giving, let us not forget the less fortunate or those who are left alone.

World Food Day

[Laurin Liu, NDP, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, October 16 is World Food Day. The 2014 theme, “Feeding the world, caring for the earth”, was chosen by the UN General Assembly to increase the visibility of family farming and smallholder farmers.

Small farms in Canada feed entire cities and are at the heart of our rural economy. Unfortunately, 8,000 family farms have disappeared under the Conservatives, and two million Canadians run the risk of malnutrition. The UN has even expressed concerns about food security in Canada's aboriginal communities.

The NDP has developed a pan-Canadian food strategy to strengthen the system that takes food from the farm to the fork by way of our processors. Canadians deserve policies that help everyone eat well. Canadians deserve an NDP government that will stand up for family farms.

International Day of the Girl

[Susan Truppe, Conservative, London North Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, as Parliamentary Secretary for Status of Women, I would like to invite all Canadians to celebrate International Day of the Girl on October 11.

Each year, on this special day, we celebrate the hope and inspiration that girls and young women represent for our families, our communities, and our country.

This day also brings attention to the needs of girls throughout the world, who so often face violence and poverty, as well as inadequate education and health care.

That is why I am proud of the Government of Canada's leadership role in having the United Nations declare the International Day of the Girl.

On October 11, I hope that all Canadians will find ways to support and celebrate girls and young women on this unique and very special day.

Dunbarton High School

[Corneliu Chisu, Conservative, Pickering—Scarborough East, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Canada Green Building Council has named Dunbarton High School of Pickering, in my riding, as the greenest school in Canada for 2014.

Of the many schools invited to participate, Dunbarton High displayed exceptional progress in reducing its impact on the earth and raising necessary environmental awareness.

The school has started an enviroclub, geared towards helping the school community become more environmentally friendly.

It has worked on an on-campus biodiversity program, in which they planted 70 trees and 22 native species in an effort to reduce the school's reliance on air conditioning, and they have participated in rehabilitation efforts in local parks.

This achievement did not come easily to the school; it is the result of hard work, commitment, and passion from students and staff. They have made their school proud.

I am honoured to share with this House that I am part of a community and a city, Pickering, which has one of the greenest schools in Canada.

Citizenship Week

[Djaouida Sellah, NDP, Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I am very happy to be talking about Citizenship Week today. I would like to congratulate the new Canadians in Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert once again. In September, 74 people in Saint-Hubert and Saint-Bruno were granted Canadian citizenship. Canada has built a reputation as a country of broad cultural diversity, and it has maintained that reputation on the international stage.

Despite our obvious wealth, there are still too many people waiting for Canadian citizenship. Processing delays for sponsorship and family reunification applications are still too often preventing people like you and me from starting a life in Canada. The government needs to know that by working together we can enhance Canada's reputation as a country that welcomes newcomers. Let us build our history together.

[Bernard Trottier, Conservative, Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON]

Mr. Speaker, next week Canadians are invited to join together to celebrate Citizenship Week. This is an opportunity to reflect on the many freedoms, rights, and responsibilities that we enjoy as citizens of this great country. It is also an ideal time for all citizens to reaffirm their commitment to Canada, our values and traditions.

Since 2006, more than 1.5 million new citizens have made a permanent connection to Canada. We are proud of this record, and we continue to ensure that we welcome even more new citizens to the Canadian family. With our government's recent changes to the Citizenship Act, connections to Canada are being strengthened and newcomers are seeing their applications being processed more quickly.

Next week, thousands of newcomers will become Canadians at poignant ceremonies from coast to coast to coast. I invite all Canadians to take part in Citizenship Week activities across Canada to celebrate all that it means to be Canadian and to show the world that we are Canada proud.

Municipality of Stoke

[Jean Rousseau, NDP, Compton—Stanstead, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to share some good news about my riding.

However, first, I would like to recognize a great Canadian. Germain Nault, a veteran who took part in the Normandy landing, was introduced in the House in June. He passed away on Tuesday, September 23, several days after receiving the prestigious French Legion of Honour. I remember him as a man who said, “let there never be another war”. We will remember him.

Meanwhile, the small municipality of Stoke is celebrating its 150th anniversary. Stoke is one of those places where it is good to live. It has beautiful mountains that can be seen for miles around. It is home to the Canadian cross-country ski and biathlon training centre. The agricultural industry in the area is booming, with companies such as Mario Côté, Ferme Lieutenant, Miellerie Lune de miel, Boulangerie Bertrand and Charcuteries et Salaison Aurèle Théberge, just to name a few. Tomorrow, on Saturday, I will be sampling local products at Oktoberfest.

For 150 years, generations of people have been rolling up their sleeves to build a region that is proud, united in tough times, courageous, prosperous, fertile and faithful to the traditions of hard work, equality and justice. Congratulations to the people of Stoke.

The Economy

[Scott Armstrong, Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley, NS]

Mr. Speaker, the anti-trade NDP is at it again. Yesterday, the NDP attempted to gut the Canada-Korea free trade agreement. It tried to remove the investor protection provision from that agreement. This is something that is contained in almost every modern free trade agreement worldwide.

Not surprisingly, the Liberal trade critic did not show up to help stop the NDP's anti-trade agenda. Then, again, she has not attended a trade meeting in the ten months since she was appointed as the critic.

While the Liberals and the NDP are playing hooky, our Conservative government is focused on what matters to Canadians, which is growing the economy and helping to create jobs. Since coming to office, our Conservative government has created almost 20% more jobs on a per capita basis than its closest competitor. In fact, Statistics Canada just announced today an increase of 74,000 net new jobs in September. The majority of those jobs are full-time jobs.

Only the Conservative Prime Minister and the Conservative government will stand up for the economy of this country.

Religious Intolerance

[Judy Sgro, Liberal, York West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Office of Religious Freedom was notified of a possible plan to target and kill Ahmadis in Lahore, Pakistan, by the country's largest terrorist group, known as the SSP. Local sources have said that the SSP is vowing to teach the Ahmadis a lesson.

Threats like this are not to be ignored by anyone. We will all remember May 2010, when an attack in Lahore, Pakistan, killed 90 and wounded another 120 Ahmadis. These brazen attacks were carried out in two Ahmadiyya mosques during prayers, against men, women, and children who simply wanted to worship in peace.

Canada needs to move quickly to engage with Pakistan in a way that ensures the safety of all Ahmadis. Religious freedom and security are not just notions for Canadians; they are basic human rights. Canada must do what it can to protect those freedoms around the world.

Liberal Party of Canada

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, who is really in charge of the Liberal Party of Canada? We have good reason to wonder if high-level people other than the leader are pulling the strings. From one day to the next, nobody in the Liberal Party seems to have the same opinion.

When the Liberal leader says that he will not support the decision to participate in a mission in Iraq against the Islamic State, is he conveying the views of high-level puppet masters? When the member for Westmount—Ville-Marie says that the Liberal Party supports the troops, is he conveying the views of the Liberal leader?

Quebeckers and Canadians have the right to know who is making the decisions within the Liberal Party, who is developing its policies and who is telling the leader of the Liberal Party of Canada how to lead.

Ethics

[Ryan Cleary, NDP, St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Employment and Social Development is once again using his office for political party purposes. Just before the last election, the NDP obtained Conservative Party plans to campaign in “very ethnic” ridings, a partisan plan drawn up on ministerial letterhead.

Now, the minister is spending his days on Twitter, sending out crudely drawn attacks on opposition politicians. However, it is not the minister himself who is firing up Microsoft Paint to put block letters on opposition faces. No, it is his staff who are putting this together.

Even the Canadian Taxpayers Federation has had enough of his antics.

Who could forget this very same minister last year tweeting out how he thought it was a “good thing” that his staff were not unionized.

While the mess he has made of the temporary foreign worker program spirals out of control, the minister and his staff were devoted to the one thing they really know how to do well, which is coming up with Lolcats. Canadians deserve better.

Child Fitness Tax Credit

[Erin O'Toole, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday I had the honour to welcome the Prime Minister to the Durham region and to an exciting announcement at the Abilities Centre in Whitby, where he said the child fitness tax credit will be doubled. All families know the rising cost of enrolling their kids in hockey, soccer, or dance. These are real needs for each family. Over 1.4 million families benefit each year from this tax credit, including mine, with my children Mollie and Jack.

Yesterday the Prime Minister announced that we are doubling the child fitness tax credit and making it fully refundable, allowing more low-income families to benefit directly.

On top of this, we have the universal child care credit, the child tax credit, and the children's arts tax credit. In total, each Canadian family is saving approximately $3,400 a year under our government.

I want to thank the Prime Minister for putting families first more than any other leader, and I wish Canadian families a happy Thanksgiving.

National Defence

[Peter Julian, NDP, Burnaby—New Westminster, BC]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are ending this week with as many questions about the government's ill-defined combat mission in Iraq as they had at the beginning of the week.

One thing has become clear: the Conservatives are forcing Canada into this combat mission with little planning and no real answers about our goals or exit strategy. This sets up an impossible situation.

How can the Department of National Defence produce a plan for a mission that has no clear direction from the government?

[Chris Alexander, Conservative, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, it is absolutely clear what the direction is. Under the leadership of President Obama, 60 countries have joined a coalition to oppose ISIL, and Canada is determined to do its part to stop this terrorist organization of extreme views, unlike any we have seen before, from continuing its rampage against civilians, from continuing to kill civilians without discrimination.

That includes a military component. That includes the Royal Canadian Air Force, and we are proud of the part that they are preparing to play.

Public Safety

[Peter Julian, NDP, Burnaby—New Westminster, BC]

Mr. Speaker, let us take a simple example: the government boasts about protecting Canadians from the Islamic State armed group, but we saw in committee that that is not true. The government showed that it was unable to combat the radicalization of some individuals.

How come 130 individuals were able to leave Canada to participate in terrorist activities without triggering any action by this government? Why did this government not do anything?

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness]

Mr. Speaker, we take terrorist threats very seriously in Canada. That is why we brought in the Combating Terrorism Act, which allows us to lay criminal charges against individuals who travel to commit terrorist attacks. Why did the member and his party oppose this law, which is essential to protecting the safety of Canadians?

National Defence

[Peter Julian, NDP, Burnaby—New Westminster, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the plan to combat the Islamic State armed group here in Canada is not the only problem. For the past few days, we have been asking questions in the House about whether the Conservatives plan on engaging in combat operations in Syria. The government refuses to answer simple questions.

The Conservatives did not have to include Syria in their motion, but they did nonetheless.

Why does the Conservatives' proposed combat mission include Syria if they have no intention of going there? Why this total lack of clarity?

[Chris Alexander, Conservative, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, Canada's combat mission is very clear. We are not undertaking any military action against any state. We are carrying out a military combat mission against the Islamic State terrorist group, and we will carry out this mission in Iraq, with the permission of the Iraqi authorities. The real question for Canadians is why the NDP insists that Canada not get involved in supporting the international military effort.

International Development

[Hélène Laverdière, NDP, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Malala Yousafzai received the Nobel Peace Prize for the work she has done for girls' education, and I offer her my warmest congratulations. Meanwhile, the Conservative government is still refusing to reinvest in the Global Partnership for Education, which is doing so much for girls' education.

Will the government finally renew its commitment to education for all by contributing to the Global Partnership for Education?

[Lois Brown, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Development]

Mr. Speaker, education, and particularly education of girls, has been one of the focus points for Canada's development dollars.

I look at what we were able to accomplish in Afghanistan, where millions of girls are now able to go to school.

We have a great reputation on that. We will be considering the Global Partnership for Education as its replenishment conference comes forward.

[Hélène Laverdière, NDP, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the replenishment conference in fact took place last June.

I am sure I speak for all members in this House when I congratulate Malala Yousafzai, who has been recognized for her courageous work on behalf of girls' education with a Nobel Prize. It is truly deserved.

Malala asked Canada to make a pledge to the Global Partnership for Education, which held its replenishment conference last June, but the government made no pledge at that conference and none since.

When will the government renew Canada's commitment to education for all?